Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Music and bliss love is a many-clichéd fairytale experience for most Gen X teenagers, who’ve fallen hard and fast. Such emotional exaggeration comes back to bite once the magic is lost. For the young and the brave in love, overwhelming romance can quickly turn into the pain of break-ups and betrayal.

But on a sunnier flipside, teen hearts nowadays are healing quicker, contrary to earlier, more sentimental times and generations. Classic example: Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor’s break-up.

While PC chose to sulk and keep hush, Shahid made a move on the first lass who came his way, Genelia. The two were spotted canoodling soon after the young Romeo’s break-up. And the — separately — happily every after story of Ranbir and Deepika, soon after their break-up is as well known.

This new rebound trend seems to be catching. “The easiest way to get over somebody is to get under somebody,” says Prerna Erms, 17-year-old college student. “You direct your attention towards someone else. It works like a charm and is so much better than sulking around!” she laughs.

“Teens need space to weather these storms,” suggests psychologist Dr. Sona N. “After all, they need to learn these vital coping skills. But don’t discount the youngsters’ feelings just because they are young! They feel deeply because they are young! And parents need to soothe the young wounded spirit. Distraction and preoccupation of any sort is good during heartbreak. Having a confidante? or even an admirer? can uplift the zest to press on.”

Ritesh Mandal, 16, has an interesting twist on ‘rebound’, calling it the concept of a ‘break-up buddy’. “My girlfriend of two-and-a-half years and I broke up on mutual terms. I got through the grieving period quickly because I started hanging out with a friend with who, out of the blue, I got into a relationship,” he says.

But there are the ‘Old School’ die-hards who find it hard to move on after a break-up. People like Madhumitha Das, who says, “I withdrew and couldn’t stand the company of anyone at all. I am starting to recover slowly, and have come to value my friends more.”

Yet, she says, “Relationships and serious commitments are totally off limits now; casual flirting and easy chat-ups are so much more convenient and easy on the heart. No-strings attached!”